Chapter 7

The words hit the crowd like a physical blow.

The bodyguards stared at Audrey's rising chest. They released their hold on Dakota, their hands shaking as they shoved the taser back into its holster. The hostility in their eyes vanished, replaced by sheer awe.

The doctor dropped to his knees beside the monitor. He stared at the strong, rhythmic green lines. He looked at the gold needle buried in Audrey's chest. His jaw dropped.

"The Lazarus Protocol," the doctor whispered. His voice trembled. "This is the Lazarus Protocol. I read about this in a classified medical journal. It is real."

The bodyguards exchanged shocked glances. Even they knew the rumors of the mythical acupuncture technique that could restart a dead heart.

Tiffany stood frozen. The blood drained from her face. She realized she had just insulted a master physician. And she had lost the bet.

Tiffany took a slow step backward. She turned her body toward the open door of the Maybach, preparing to run.

Dakota caught the movement out of the corner of her eye. She kicked the toe of her boot against the asphalt, popping a small, jagged rock into the air. She kicked it forward.

The rock shot across the road like a bullet. It slammed directly into the back of Tiffany's knee.

Tiffany screamed. Her leg buckled instantly. She crashed face-first against the side of the Maybach, her cheek smacking against the expensive paint.

Dakota walked slowly toward the car. She stopped right behind Tiffany and held out her open palm.

Tiffany rubbed her bruised cheek. She glared at Dakota, opening her mouth to scream for the guards.

A weak, raspy voice came from the ground.

"Tiffany."

Tiffany froze. She slowly turned her head.

Audrey sat up, supported by the lead bodyguard. She was weak, but her eyes burned with absolute authority. She had been paralyzed, but she had heard every word spoken while she was trapped in her own body.

"Give the girl what you promised," Audrey commanded. Her voice was quiet, but it carried the weight of the Wilder empire.

Tiffany trembled. She did not dare disobey the matriarch of the Wilder family. She reached up to her neck. Her fingers fumbled with the clasp of the diamond necklace.

She pulled the heavy jewels off and dropped them into Dakota's waiting hand. The diamonds felt cold against Dakota's skin.

"The rest of it," Dakota said. She stared down at Tiffany.

Tiffany's face burned bright red. She stepped away from the car. She bent at the waist, bowing deeply toward the girl in the faded jacket.

"I am sorry," Tiffany forced the words out through clenched teeth. Humiliation radiated from her shaking shoulders.

Dakota let out a short breath. "Your apology is pathetic, but I accept it."

Audrey pushed herself up with the bodyguard's help. She walked slowly toward Dakota. She shoved the doctor out of her way.

Audrey snapped her fingers. An assistant rushed forward with a leather checkbook and a pen. Audrey scribbled across the paper and tore it out.

She held the check out with both hands. It was written for one million dollars.

"Thank you for saving my life," Audrey said. "Please, give me your contact information. The Wilder family owes you a great debt."

Dakota took the check. She folded it once and shoved it into her pocket without looking at the zeros. She recited the number to her personal, encrypted line, one only a very select few people had.

Dakota walked back to Audrey. Her hands moved in a blur, pulling the silver and gold needles from the woman's chest and head. She slid them back into the hairpin and clipped it into her hair.

"The toxin is only suppressed," Dakota said. "Get to a hospital and get your blood filtered immediately."

Dakota turned her back on the billionaires. She picked up her canvas backpack from the hood of the ruined Ford and started walking down the highway.

Audrey watched the girl walk away. She turned to her assistant.

"Find out everything about her," Audrey ordered.